Jar closure



G. M. DAVIS JAR CLOSURE June 27, 1967 Filed Feb. 1.7, 1965 R Q W 5, 6:Zm 55W L 1 W F G. 2 INVENTOR GEORGE M. DAVIS ATTORNEY United StatesPatent 3,327,752 JAR CLOSURE George M. Davis, Rochester, N.Y., assignorto Dygert & Stone, Inc, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York FiledFeb. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 433,289 12 Claims. (Cl. 15052) This inventionrelates to a jar closure improvement, and more particularly to a jarcover and overcap cooperatively arranged for closing a jar and enclosinga space above the cover.

For some jars adapted to contain fluid contents, it is expedient toincorporate a pump mechanism extending through the cover and into thejar and by means of which the contents can be pumped out of the jar.Such pump devices are carried in an associated package or else theyextend above the jar cover where they interfere with packing, shipping,stacking, and general handling of jars, and where they are apt to bebroken or damaged.

It is an object of this invention to protectively enclose a space over ajar cover by means of a snap-fit overcap which can house and protect apump or other device extending through or positioned above a jar cover.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate separate or associatedpackaging of a pump and cover com bination for jars.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate handling, shipping,packing, and stacking of jars, and particularly jars having pump devicesextending through their covers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, attractive,marketable, and serviceable overcap for a jar cover.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from thespecification and from the recital of the appended claims. To these andother ends, the invention resides in certain improvements, all as willbe hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointedout in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an overcap according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of a cover and a cross section view of anovercap snap-fitted in place on the cover according to the invention.

Generally, the invention comprises an overcap adapted to be snap-fittedonto a cover having a knurled outer surface adjacent its upper edge. Arelatively small diameter portion of the inside wall of the overcaplocated above the lower or bottom edge of the overcap is adapted toclosely engage the knurled surface, and the bottom edge of the overcapis preferably adapted to abut against a radially extending rim of thelower edge of the cover. Thus, the overcap is strong vertically from itsposition of engagement with the lower rim of the cover, and since theportion of the overcap which engages the cover is spaced from its bottomedge, the overcap is not readily torn or cracked from being snap-fittedonto the cover.

The inventive jar closure is preferably used in association with thewell-known, knurled, threaded cover shown in FIG. 2. This cover has athreaded portion 11 and a knurled outer surface 12 adjacent its upperedge and adapted for hand gripping of the cover to thread it on and offa jar. A lower rim 13 extends radially outward at the bottom edge ofcover 10 and preferably provides the greatest diameter of cover 10. Pumpmechanism 14 is shown extending through and above cover 10 for pumpingfluid contents from a jar to which cover 10 is threaded, but pump 14 canbe varied, eliminated, or replaced by some other known device.

Overcap 15 is shown in FIG. 2 as snap-fitted in place 3,327,752 PatentedJune 27, 1967 on cover 10. Overcap 15 is preferably molded in one 'pieceof synthetic plastic material, and is preferably formed of transparentmaterial so that pump mechanism 14, or some other object or device, isvisible through overcap 15. Overcap 15 extends above the upper surfaceof cover 10 to enclose and protect a space above cover 10 into whichpump mechanism 14 or other device extends.

The upper surface 16 of overcap 15 is preferably circular as best shownin FIG. 1 and can be provided with one or more apertures 17 for ventingthe enclosed space above cover 10. Upper surface 16 is preferablyprovided with a peripheral raised rib 18 to facilitate stacking of asuperposed jar, the circular area inside rib 18 being adapted to receivethe base of such a superposed jar.

A generally cylindrical upper wall portion 19 of overcap 15 is connectedto upper surface 16 and extends downward therefrom. The lower insidesurface 20 of upper wall portion 19 is dimensioned to engage closelyagainst knurled surface 12 of cover 10 in an interference snap fit.

Such close engagement of the wall of overcap 15 with knurled surface 12tends to force wall 19 outward, and tends to split wall 19. In part toprevent any such splitting, a generally cylindrical lower wall portion21 connects with the lower extremity of upper wall portion 19 andextends downwardly therefrom. Lower wall portion 21 has a largerdiameter than upper wall portion 19 so as to fit loosely over the upperportion of cover 10 and so that the inside surface of wall 21 does notengage any portion of the outer wall of cover 10.

The lower or bottom edge 22 of lower wall 21 is preferably approximatelythe diameter of rim 13 so as to abut against the upper surface of rim 13and support overcap 15 vertically from a position of engagement with rim13. The engagement of lower edge 22 of lower wall 21 with rim 13 notonly prevents any forcing of overcap 15 too far down onto cover 10 so asto split the wall of overcap 15, but also supports overcap 15 verticallyto protect the enclosed space above cover 10, and to support superposedstacked jars. Also, lower wall 21 extending downward from upper wallportion 20 strengthens upper wall portion against the radialinterference between its inside surface 20 and knurled surface 12 so asto prevent any splitting of overcap 15 from snap-fitting onto cover 10.

The juncture between lower wall 21 and upper wall 19 is preferablyformed as the illustrated step line 23 disposed adjacent the lower edgeof knurled surface 12. However, a curved joint or joint of otherconfiguration can be used to connect lower wall 21 and upper wall 19. Itis only important that the inner surface 20 of the lower extremity ofupper wall 19 be dimensioned for an interference snap fit with knurledsurface 12, and that lower wall be of suificient diameter to clearknurled surface 12, and threaded portion 11 of cover 10. Of course, thediameter of bottom edge 22 of lower wall 21 is preferably not greaterthan the outside diameter of rim 13, so that bottom edge 22 can abutagainst rim 13 as described above.

It will thus be seen that cover 10 and overcap 15 cooperate with eachother to provide a simple and economical jar closure allowing a devicesuch as pump mechanism 14 to extend above the jar cover and yetattractively enclosing and protecting such a mechanism with a convenientand reliable device that is easily removed, and allows normal packing,shipping, handling, and stacking of jars. While the invention has beendisclosed herein by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in anillustrative, rather than a limiting, sense, and it is contemplated thatvarious modifications of the construction and arrangement of the partswill readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a jar closure, the combination comprising:

(a) a generally circular cover for fitting over the opening in a jar;

(b) said cover being formed with a knurled outer surface adjacent itsupper edge;

(c) an overcap adapted to snap fit over said cover to enclosure a spaceabove said cover, said overcap comprising:

(1) a generally planar, circular upper surface;

(2) a generally cylindrical wall connected with said upper surface andextending downward therefrom, a lower portion of said wall having alarger diameter than an upper portion of said Wall; and

(3) the diameter of said wall being increased to form an outward stepalong a line adjacent the bottom edge of said knurled surface when saidovercap is snap-fitted on said cover, said lower portion of said wallbelow said outward step being adapted to move freely over said knurledsurface, and the smaller diameter portion of said wall adjacent saidstep being adapted to engage said knurled surface.

2. The jar closure of claim 1 wherein said cover has a radiallyextending rim adjacent the lower edge thereof, and said lower edge ofsaid overcap is adapted to abut against the upper surface of said rimwhen said wall closely engages said knurled surface.

3. The jar closure of claim 1 wherein said overcap is molded in onepiece of plastic material.

4. In a jar closure, the combination comprising:

(a) a generally circular cover adapted for threaded engagement with ajar to close the opening therein, said cover comprising:

(1) a knurled outer surface adjacent the upper edge of said cover; and

(2) a radially extending rim adjacent the lower edge of said cover; and

(b) an overcap adapted to snap fit over said cover to enclose a spaceabove said cover, said overcap comprising:

(3) a generally planar, circular upper surface; (4) a generallycylindrical upper Wall portion connected with said upper surface andextending downward therefrom, the inside surface of said upper wallportion adjacent the lower edge thereof being adapted to engage closelysaid knurled surface of said cover; and g (5 a lower wall portionextending from said lower edge of said upper wall portion and having adiameter greater than said upper wall portion, the bottom edge of saidlower wall portion being adapted to abut against the upper surface ofsaid rim of said cover when said overcap is snap-fitted in place.

5. The jar closure of claim 4 wherein said upper surface of said overcapis provided with an aperture for venting said enclosed space.

6. The jar closure of claim 4 wherein said upper surface of said overcapis formed to define a raised peripheral rim to facilitate stacking of asuperposed jar on said overcap.

7. The jar closure of claim 4 wherein a pump mechanism extends throughsaid cover and into said enclosed space.

8. The jar closure of claim 4 wherein said overcap is molded in onepiece of plastic material.

,9. In a jar closure, the combination comprising:

(a) a generally circular threaded cover for closing the opening in ajar;

(b) said cover being formed with a knurled outer surface adjacent itsupper edge;

(c) said cover being formed with a radially extending rim adjacent itslower edge;

(d) an overcap adapted to snap fit over said cover to enclose a spaceabove said cover;

(e) said overcap having a generally planar, circular upper surface;

(f) said upper surface being provided with an aperture for venting saidenclosed space;

(g) said upper surface being provided with a raised peripheral rim tofacilitate stacking of a superposed jar on said overcap;

(h) a first generally cylindrical wall connected with said upper surfaceand extending downward therefrom, the lower inside surface of said firstwall being adapted to closely engage said knurled surface of said cover;and V (i) a second generally cylindrical wall of slightly largerdiameter than the diameter of the lower extremity of said first wall,said second Wall being connected to said first Wall along a step lineadjacent the lower edge of said knurled surface when said overcap issnap-fitted in place, and said second wall extending downward from saidfirst wall, the bottom edge of said second wall being adapted to abutagainst the upper surface of said radially extending'rim of said coverwhen said overcap is snapfitted onto said cover.

10. The jar closure of claim 9 wherein a pump device extends throughsaid cover and into said enclosed space.

11. The jar closure of claim 9 wherein said overcap is molded in onepiece of plastic material.

12. The jar closure of claim 11 wherein said material is transparent.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,031,172 2/1936 Maloney 222-1823,045,723 7/1962 Gainor 215-410 X 3,090,067 5/1963 Weiby et al. 215--4lX FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A JAR CLOSURE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: (A) A GENERALLYCIRCULAR COVER FOR FITTING OVER THE OPENING IN A JAR; (B) SAID COVERBEING FORMED WITH A KNURLED OUTER SURFACE ADJACENT ITS UPPER EDGE; (C)AN OVERCAP ADAPTED TO SNAP FIT OVER SAID COVER TO ENCLOSURE A SPACEABOVE SAID COVER, SAID OVERCAP COMPRISING: (1) A GENERALLY PLANAR,CIRCULAR UPPER SURFACE; (2) A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL WALL CONNECTED WITHSAID UPPER SURFACE AND EXTENDING DOWNWARD THEREFROM, A LOWER PORTION OFSAID WALL HAVING A LARGER DIAMETER THAN AN UPPER PORTION OF SAID WALL;AND (3) THE DIAMETER OF SAID WALL BEING INCREASED TO FORM AN OUTWARDSTEP ALONG A LINE ADJACENT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID KNURLED SURFACE WHENSAID OVERCAP IS SNAP-FITTED ON SAID COVER, SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAIDWALL BELOW SAID OUTWARD STEP BEING ADAPTED TO MOVE FREELY OVER SAIDKNURLED SURFACE, AND THE SMALLER DIAMETER PORTION OF SAID WALL ADJACENTSAID STEP BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID KNURLED SURFACE.